 As I move forward with releasing the volumes in The Lords' Gambit Series which have been delayed until now (Volumes Three, Four, and Five), it warms my heart to know that someone else has read the first volume of the series that faces darkness head-on, and has resonated with the journey these courageous women are headed down.
If you haven't already read Oracle of Life, you can dive into it now for only 99-C here. Monk of Death: The Lords' Gambit Series Volume Two is also available, and volume three is soon to follow! Sign up for my newsletter here for updates on my writing journey, and I'll send you a free book as a thank-you!
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Over the weekend, it became clear that I had two choices left for the release of volume three:
1.) Release a roughly-edited, rushed final draft of Vanguard of Justice to you on schedule in April. 2.) Allow the retailers to cancel my pre-orders (which would cancel the rest of the series, too). You all deserve the best I can give you in this series. Oracle of Life (volume one) and Monk of Death (volume two) are both already available to read. Book three, the file that was completely lost on my drives, though quickly revised, is very rough and needs time to go through the proper editing process before it releases. What this means for you as readers: Anyone who pre-ordered should now have received a pre-order cancellation notice from the retailers for books three and four. I am going to step away from the series for a bit to clear my head and come back to Vanguard of Justice with fresh eyes and a fresh mind, to make this the best book of the series yet. When it's polished and ready for the world, I'll launch the book without a pre-order and let you all know it's available. If you'd like an update when the book goes live, my newsletter subscribers will hear first (you can sign up here to receive my newsletters). Thank you all again for your support, and for reading the worlds I've created! ~Katherine  To all the indie authors who are wondering if you should quit... I'm not going to lie to you. I'm not going to tell you things will get better. Indie publishing is an uphill battle. Every single day, something is changing. Algorithms change how much they'll show our content to readers. Readers change their reading and reviewing preferences. Distributors change fees, royalty cuts, and audiences. Even our core team of editors, cover designers, and formatters may need time away from the book world at some point, or change careers entirely. But here's the thing: Our writing lives ARE our own real-life 'stories'. And stories are never smooth sailing all the way through, are they? To all the indie authors who are wondering if you should quit... I'm not going to tell you that your book is 'good enough'. Let's be real, if you've been writing for any length of time, you know what a 'garbage draft' is. And you know that ten years from now, if you keep writing everyday, your best book today will be nothing compared to the work you would craft then. But if you don't ever write 'early works', 'latter works' can never follow. Besides, there's editors to help us! To all the indie authors who are wondering if you should quit... I'm not going to tell you that you're 'worth it'. In truth, our worth is in no way tied to a dream scribbled on paper or sprawled across a screen. Our worth is not summarized in numbers of followers, downloads, or dollars. It's not even tied to our ability to succeed as an indie author. Those are all ACHIEVMENTS. Achievements are part of our life's highlight reel, not our life itself. To all the indie authors who are wondering if you should quit... I'm not going to tell you that you shouldn't quit. But know your 'why'. If you can't be honest with anybody else, be honest with yourself before you walk away. Are the sacrifices that go into this journey (time, money, emotions) more than you can afford or want to pour out at this point in your life? That's okay! Is this a 'later', more than a 'goodbye', to recoup what you've given away during this process? Or are you tired of writing your genre, themes, or in general? Do you need to give yourself permission to change into the growth this journey has taken you through, or give your brain and heart time to catch up with that growth? Finally, to all the indie authors who are wondering if you should quit... I am one of you. I am proud of you. And whether or not you choose to rise above this moment of darkness and doubt, I am cheering you on. Just please, if you quit, please don't ever let your light go dim. ~Katherine D. Graham
The Lords' Gambit Series is shifting to a brand new character and storyline once again in Volume Three: Vanguard of Justice, bringing knights, pirates, and assassins together in a high seas mythological fantasy adventure. Knights Freya, our newest main character, is the commander of the Order of Holy Knights. Freya has been tasked with one primary duty: serve as an advisor, right-hand, and protector of Crown Princess Mariabelle, who is set to take her rightful place on the throne at the turning of her twentieth spring. When the treasonous King Regent schemes to overthrow his niece's right to the throne, Freya stands between the princess she loves and the sure destruction awaiting her people. Pirates Pirate King Seba and his crew of shadows about The Celestial's Tears are the terror of both sea and land. Said to be wraiths, the crew (under the watchful, shadowy eyes of First Mate Caitlin), is loyal to the estranged Prince of the shadow kingdom Kertopa. When the King Regent of the lords' United Provinces offers Seba an opportunity to finally retake his throne in Kertopa in exchange for whisking Princess Mariabelle away, the Pirate King does not expect a Holy Knight to be the one standing in his way. Assassins Pirate or Knight, Princess or Prince those who board The Celestial's Tears never come back the same. Assassins hail from the ship, or at least that's what the legends say. To return to Kertopa and break a dark curse thousands of years in the making, Freya finds herself making a deal with the shadows themselves to save her Princess, and their entire kingdom. When the price for failure is her own soul in exchange, but success only sets the stage for world-wide war, Freya and Seba must decide how much having the right royal on the throne is truly, in the end, worth sacrificing. Ready to Read More of Vanguard of Justice?
Do you want to be a pirate in Vanguard of Justice? If so, here is your chance! See the wanted post below for more details on how to enter the drawing to have the first mate in the third volume of The Lords' Gambit Series named after you:  Wanted: One character name for an Honorable First Mate Where: Aboard The Celestial's Tears (Which is an entirely honest vessel, it is, and not in any way a pirate ship, argh...) Reward: One free advance reader e-book copy of Vanguard of Justice Test yer mettle at the random tournie aboard the Wheel of Names by signin' up on the e-scroll below: This 'Ere Tournie Now Be Closed. |
  | The Vow That Twisted Fate Receives 5-Star Readers' Favorite ReviewReaders' Favorite announces the review of the Fiction - Fantasy - Epic book "The Vow That Twisted Fate" by Katherine D. Graham, currently available at http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08SKX5XX7. Readers' Favorite is one of the largest book review and award contest sites on the Internet. They have earned the respect of renowned publishers like Random House, Simon & Schuster, and Harper Collins, and have received the "Best Websites for Authors" and "Honoring Excellence" awards from the Association of Independent Authors. They are also fully accredited by the BBB (A+ rating), which is a rarity among Book Review and Book Award Contest companies. Reviewed By Cecelia Hopkins for Readers' Favorite The Vow That Twisted Fate by Katherine D. Graham sees Queen Arlena don the angel pendant that had belonged to her ancestor Queen Valera. Soon after this, the phantom of Valera passes her a dwarven dagger. Despite being urged against carrying the dagger, Valera invokes the oath associated with the dagger. This summons Maevric Stormbender and his band of select warriors to her side. Can they help Arlena defend her kingdom from an evil that arises after a gap of 500 years? What is the mysterious connection between Valera, Arlena, and the evil Maedra? The kingdom must be made safe for her sister Elzie. The Vow That Twisted Fate by Katherine D. Graham is a work of high fantasy. I thought Arlena was brave and gave a lot of herself for the peace and safety of her people. Her relationship with Talon was particularly complex and compelling. The torture scenes were genuinely distressing and I felt strong empathy toward Arlena. There was an overwhelming sense of grief and loss when she returned to find the kingdom had moved on without her. I liked the fact that her generous spirit and willingness to see the best in all creatures were pivotal to the plot. The perspectives of long-lived, short-lived, and mid-lived beings were beautifully delineated and contributed to world-building. I was surprised and intrigued to learn that long-lived races could be the most heedless instead of the wisest but found the logic convincing. The Vow That Twisted Fate by Katherine D. Graham provides a unique perspective and creates a dark and persuasive fairy story." You can learn more about Katherine D. Graham and "The Vow That Twisted Fate" at https://readersfavorite.com/book-review/the-vow-that-twisted-fate where you can read reviews and the author’s biography, as well as connect with the author directly or through their website and social media pages. |
Introducing my newest main character: Kritinia!
Kritinia was born to the Queen of Light, in secret, at the lord of Light's monastery.
Bearing the sigil of a sun as a birthmark assured her lineage as the lord of Light's heir, but an additional sigil--the lord of Dark's star--meant something much more powerful was at work. Labeled the 'Ultimate Treachery', she was left behind at the monastery to be raised as a boy in the lord of Light's service.
As she grew up, Kritinia dreamed of becoming a Holy Knight--a warrior monk in the Order of Light. She excelled at weapons training, but struggled with science and math. Beyond her studies, though, a single overwhelming choice always weighed on her: Should she continue her deception and take the vows of the Order upon her twentieth spring? Or should she leave the Order to try to find a semblance of a normal life?
Next week, Kritinia is bringing the second volume of The Lords' Gambit Series to life. One of the most exciting parts of writing this series has been bringing a new character's story to each tale. Kritinia, especially, is dear to my heart (I loved her character so much that I chose to use her name as my Fiverr username).
She is witty, generous, and thoughtful.
Quick on her feet, her primary strength in a fight is her nimble unpredictability. Kritinia is not a damsel; she is a life-long trained warrior.
When all she values is lost, and all her convictions come into question, Kritinia's strength may yet have the power to save her kingdom, and the lords themselves.
Want to be a part of Kritinia's journey?
-Grab your copy of Monk of Death here.
-Sign up for my newsletter here for launch week news and giveaways.
-And share your thoughts about my newest main character: Kritinia in the comments.
Kritinia was born to the Queen of Light, in secret, at the lord of Light's monastery.
Bearing the sigil of a sun as a birthmark assured her lineage as the lord of Light's heir, but an additional sigil--the lord of Dark's star--meant something much more powerful was at work. Labeled the 'Ultimate Treachery', she was left behind at the monastery to be raised as a boy in the lord of Light's service.
As she grew up, Kritinia dreamed of becoming a Holy Knight--a warrior monk in the Order of Light. She excelled at weapons training, but struggled with science and math. Beyond her studies, though, a single overwhelming choice always weighed on her: Should she continue her deception and take the vows of the Order upon her twentieth spring? Or should she leave the Order to try to find a semblance of a normal life?
Next week, Kritinia is bringing the second volume of The Lords' Gambit Series to life. One of the most exciting parts of writing this series has been bringing a new character's story to each tale. Kritinia, especially, is dear to my heart (I loved her character so much that I chose to use her name as my Fiverr username).
She is witty, generous, and thoughtful.
Quick on her feet, her primary strength in a fight is her nimble unpredictability. Kritinia is not a damsel; she is a life-long trained warrior.
When all she values is lost, and all her convictions come into question, Kritinia's strength may yet have the power to save her kingdom, and the lords themselves.
Want to be a part of Kritinia's journey?
-Grab your copy of Monk of Death here.
-Sign up for my newsletter here for launch week news and giveaways.
-And share your thoughts about my newest main character: Kritinia in the comments.
I am super excited to be able to invite you to join the Monk of Death ARC Team!
Unlike my Street Teams, this advance reader copy team does not require posting on social media. It honestly doesn't even require reviews (though honest reviews are always appreciated and helpful).
If you'd like a chance to receive a free copy of Monk of Death (The Lords' Gambit Series Volume Two) before it released on February 14th, just fill out the form below.
I will be selecting 20 people AT RANDOM (using the Wheel of Names) to gift a free advance copy of the book. And yes, this is open internationally.
My one ask?
That you be a lover of dark fantasy.
If dark fantasy is not really your thing (or if you've never given it a try), this may not be the best book to jump into the series with. In that case, I suggest checking out book one, Oracle of Life, instead to see if it's your style, since it is a shorter book.
Unlike my Street Teams, this advance reader copy team does not require posting on social media. It honestly doesn't even require reviews (though honest reviews are always appreciated and helpful).
If you'd like a chance to receive a free copy of Monk of Death (The Lords' Gambit Series Volume Two) before it released on February 14th, just fill out the form below.
I will be selecting 20 people AT RANDOM (using the Wheel of Names) to gift a free advance copy of the book. And yes, this is open internationally.
My one ask?
That you be a lover of dark fantasy.
If dark fantasy is not really your thing (or if you've never given it a try), this may not be the best book to jump into the series with. In that case, I suggest checking out book one, Oracle of Life, instead to see if it's your style, since it is a shorter book.
**Applications Are Now Closed. Subscribe to my newsletter HERE for invitations to future ARC teams.**
**ARCs are unedited, unformatted, advance reader copies of upcoming books. These books have been copyrighted are not to be resold. Because these ARCs are not yet edited, minor typos/grammatical errors may appear which should be edited out of the completed version. Please keep this in mind if you plan to review the book based on the ARC (as the version you're reading, while 100% the same in plot, is not going to be the version put up for sale).**
Winners selected to receive copies will be e-mailed directly by Bookfunnel, NOT from me personally. Once Bookfunnel sends you your ARC copy, you have 5 days to download it (not just open it, but actually download it to a desktop) before your link will expire. Once a link has expired, you waive your right to a free ARC copy of the book and will not be resent a new link.
Winners selected to receive copies will be e-mailed directly by Bookfunnel, NOT from me personally. Once Bookfunnel sends you your ARC copy, you have 5 days to download it (not just open it, but actually download it to a desktop) before your link will expire. Once a link has expired, you waive your right to a free ARC copy of the book and will not be resent a new link.
There are so many great indie fantasy/sci-fi bookish Kickstarters I'm super excited for right now, that I just have to share them with you! (And no, none of them are for myself.)
Check out the beautiful, page-turning projects in the works for 2023, and if one catches your eye, give them a boost to grab some exclusive swag and make an indie author's day:
Check out the beautiful, page-turning projects in the works for 2023, and if one catches your eye, give them a boost to grab some exclusive swag and make an indie author's day:
Want to be in the loop about my future book finds?
Sign up for my newsletter here to hear about book news (including mine), giveaways, events, and more, and I'll send you a free e-book just for signing up.
Sign up for my newsletter here to hear about book news (including mine), giveaways, events, and more, and I'll send you a free e-book just for signing up.
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